GUNS Magazine November 2012 Digital Edition - Page 40

I John Connor f you’ve got a family member, friend or loved one deployed overseas in service, we’ve got some great gift ideas for you again. If you’re one of our many—and very much appreciated—GUNS readers who considers all of our warriors as “friends and family they just haven’t met yet,” we have suggestions for you too. To bring some Christmas cheer to those who won’t be home for Christmas, go to www.anysoldier.com, anymarine. Another very effective charity is TroopsDirect at www.troopsdirect.org. It began with one patriotic entrepreneur sending shoebox-size “care packages” to a Marine friend in Afghanistan, and has grown through his business contacts to an organization, which supplies company to 1,000man, battalion-size units. When one combat medical unit was waiting 4 weeks for stretchers, bandages, syringes and gauze, TroopsDirect filled their needs completely in hours. When several units were getting almost no protein and one meal per day, TroopsDirect sent 5 tons of nutritional supplements, energy bars and protein powder. You send the checks and they take care of the rest, right to the last forgotten grunt on the last scorched rock in the last lonely place. I’ve been that guy, and so have some of you. ’Nuff said, friends. com, anyairman.com, anysailor.com, anycoastguard.com. There you’ll find personal notes from troops stationed in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Kuwait, Djibouti and some places you’ve never heard of, explaining their units’ situations and their needs which are not being met by military means. AnySoldier will lead you through the process of what and how to send to whom, and the warmth you get back in a thank you message can keep you toasty through Christmas. ny service member of any rank or specialty will A enjoy and value the Pocket Ref from Maxpedition. A virtual encyclopedia, it contains 3,500 conversions MaXpeditiOn and info on everything from time zones to physics and 50 knots to country codes plus far more than we can list here. The Pocket Ref puts a world of education and even entertainment into a BDU pocket—a great gift! MAxPeDITIOn P.O. BOx 5008, PALOS veRDeS, CA 90274 (877) 629-5556 www.gUnSMAgAzIne.COM/MAxPeDITIOn I’ve used two myself for years. But it was only a year ago I got SOg’s hex Bit Accessory Kit, and began using it almost daily. Five of the 12 PowerLock models feature a 1/4" socket drive like the one you see pokin’ outta the end of my PowerLock in the photo. with a dozen flathead, Torx, Phillips and hex bits plus all the on-board PowerLock tools, the combo makes a terrific toolbox for our troops! SOg SPeCIALTy KnIveS & TOOLS, LLC 6521 212Th ST. S.w., LynnwOOD, wA 98036 (888) 405-6433, www.gUnSMAgAzIne.COM/SOg-KnIveS 40 he PowerLock multitool from T SOg Knives is already a huge favorite with military personnel, and sOg specialty Knives & tOOls, llc Best Made designs peaking of BDUs, every S service has ’em now, and every BDU-wearer has to keep their pants up, right? Spec-Ops Brand has a better way to do it: Their Better BDU Belt is stout without being too stiff, micro-adjustable, nonmagnetic and non-sparking, available in all approved service colors plus the USMC Martial Arts Program. If you want to really provide “support,” this is a good way to do it! BeST MADe DeSIgnS LLC P.O. BOx 475, MOnAhAnS Tx 79756 (432) 943-4888, www.gUnSMAgAzIne.COM/BeST-MADe W W W. G U N S M A G A Z I N E . C O M • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2